Chaperones there to help film-goers brave new Colin Farell film Fright Night

The Apollo in Portland Place is providing a chaperone service to escort those of a nervous disposition back to their cars following night-time screenings of the film Fright Night.

All cinema-goers have to do is ask a member of staff.

Lisa Parry, the cinema’s general manager, said: “With Halloween not too far away Fright Night looks set to be the first major horror movie this season to get audiences cowering behind their seats.

“We, of course, want cinema-goers to have the best experience possible so what better way to enter into the spirit of Fright Night than by offering ‘spooked’ customers an escort back to their cars with our bespoke chaperone service.”

Fright Night - a remake of the 1985 original - stars Colin Farell as Jerry Dandridge, the resident vampire terrorising a quiet suburban neighbourhood.

When young protagonist Charley suspects Jerry is responsible for a string of recent deaths, he enlists the help of vampire hunter Peter Vincent, played by David Tennant, to take down his vampire neighbour.

Ross More, the cinema’s assistant manager said: “We haven’t had anyone who has needed a chaperone yet but it is nice to let our customers know that the service is there for them.

“There’s usually quite a lot of bravado involved when people go to watch horror films.

“Fright Night is a very jumpy and tense horror rather than it being psychological.”

The original Fright Night has been rated 41st in the movie review website Rotten Tomatoes’ 50 best horror movies of all time.

Alfred Hitchcox’s Psycho tops the list.